Environmental Education Programs
These are some programs that have been offered in the past. If you would like to schedule a program or plan a visit, call the Naturalist Center 896-2455.
Nature Discovery ( K or equivalent)
Children explore the forest environment and use sensory discovery to interpret nature. They identify plant and animal treasures encountered.
Protecting Animal Homes (Grade 1)
Exploring the outdoors in search of various animal homes is the focus of this program, with emphasis on the identification and preservation of habitat as well as animals' diverse needs.
How Animals Move (Grade 2)
Students learn about the adaptations which help wild animals move about, modify their environment, build homes and nests and migrate.
Life with the Indians (Grade 3)
Students visit a representative habitation with hands-on activities that teach about food resources, tools, tool-making, clothes and games of Native Americans in this area.
A Walk in the Forest (Grade 4)
Forest ecology is presented on this adventure. Cycles of nature, interrelationships of life forms, and the beauty and complexity of a forest are examined.
Looking into Lakes (Grade 5)
This program involves in-depth study of freshwater ecology. Collection, identification and categorization of the many life forms found in lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands. Water pollution, erosion and conservation are included.
The Fur Trade (Grade 6)
Settlement history of Illinois is compressed into a vignette with environmental impact commentary.
Maple Sugaring (all grades)
Hands-on experience includes tapping a maple tree, inserting the spyle, setting the collecting bucket, collecting sap, boiling it down in a cooker and sampling the finished product. Discussion covers the social aspects of maple sugaring in early Illinois history: asides relate to the ecology of a maple grove.
The Junior Rangers (Grades 6-12_
The Junior Rangers is a youth group headquartered at the Salt Fork Visitor Center. Monthly meetings address a variety of environmental concerns. Projects include such things as installation of duck nest boxes or constructing bluebird nest boxes.